Periods
At Primary School? Handling Early Puberty
Girls are reaching puberty earlier. The average age for girls to begin
their periods is now 12 years and 10 months. Doctors say anything above
8-and-a-half is unexceptional.
If
this is happening to your daughter, allow her to hang on to her childhood
if she wants to. She may prefer to pretend it's not happening and want
to be like all her pre-pubescent friends.
Don't
make a fuss
Don't get carried away and announce what's going on to friends and family.
It's up to your daughter to decide who and when to tell - it's her body.
Remember to respect her privacy.
Anticipate
her needs
Breast development is usually the first sign of puberty. This can be painful,
so make sure that she has a well-fitting, supportive bra. She'll feel
more positive if you let her enjoy choosing a style she likes and feels
happy wearing. At first, you may have to go shopping every couple of months
- cup sizes change rapidly.
Most
school uniforms are sized for 'children'. Make sure she feels comfortable.
She may need more accommodating blouses, for example. Gaping shirt-fronts
are embarrassing.
Make sure she has what she needs
Your daughter's primary school may not
have dispensers or even disposal bins. Help her out by making sure she
always has enough sanitary protection in her school bag - cycles can be
very unpredictable, especially in the first few years. The same goes for
painkillers - your GP can advise on the best brands. A box of pads or
tampons in the loo (that she can help herself from) will be appreciated
.
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